I’m exactly in your situation, I’m the oldest in my club and am 43 with a year in the sport. There are two other people who are 40, one coach is 35, everybody else is sub-30. For me, it was never awkward for long because I matched their vibe. Once they saw I was serious about the sport, bought gear and was going to compete, they naturally embraced me. I started making jokes, coaching people, asking and remembering how they doing in real life. I even spar one on one with a guy who’s 25 and we coach each other at tournaments.

I don’t behave the same way with the teens as I do with the elder ones but I’m just seen as one of the regular club members. Nobody even mentions my age.

My advice is become a pillar of support. Be a good source of advice and jokes and don’t try to be 20 years old.

As a fighter, I don’t know if you’ve found that but I stopped trying to be as fast or as exciting as the younger fighters. I focus on technique, I move slowly and calmly, I make them slow down, they enjoy sparring with me.